Koirala contributed in fostering Indo-Nepal ties: President Mukherjee

President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday conveyed his condolences on the passing away of Nepal's former prime minister Sushil Koirala, saying that he worked tirelessly to foster the close and multifaceted relations between India and Nepal.

"Sushil Koirala worked tirelessly to foster the close and multifaceted relations between India and Nepal. Under his stewardship of the Government of Nepal, considerable progress was achieved in the fields of hydropower and connectivity," President Mukherjee said in his message to the President of Nepal, Her Excellency Bidya Devi Bhandari.

"I was deeply saddened to learn of the sad demise of former Prime Minister of Nepal and the leader of the Nepali Congress Shri Sushil Koirala. In his passing away, Nepal has lost a leader who dedicated his life to Nepal's progress and development. He led Nepal during the crucial period of political transition and Constitution promulgation. The simplicity of his life holds a lesson for all of us," he added.

President Mukherjee also said that the people of India share the sorrow and grief of the people of Nepal over the loss of Koirala.

"Please accept my heartfelt condolences. I would request Your Excellency to kindly convey my deepest sympathies to all members of the Koirala family," he said.

Koirala, who was suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, passed away this morning. He was 76 years old.

Koirala served as Nepal's 37th Prime Minister from February 2014 to October 2014.

He was the cousin of former prime ministers B.P. Koirala and Girija Prasad Koirala, and had taken part in the democratic movements in Nepal along with them.